James Suckling (100)

This is incredibly complex and complete with white and black-truffle aromas, as well as wet earth and blackcurrants. Then, it changes to tobacco, cedar and wild forest fruit. Dazzling complexity in both the nose and palate. Full-bodied, yet tight and harmonious. The tannins melt into the wine. Drinkable now, but one for the cellar. This estate could one day rival Harlan, which shares its ownership.

Wine Advocate (99)

The best wine so far (although I suspect the 2015 may ultimately enter the picture as well) is the nearly perfect 2013 Promontory Estate. It is simply richer and fuller, with greater integration of tannin, and tastes spectacular. With an opaque, dense purple color and notes of graphite, wet rocks, blackberry and blueberry fruit, some charcoal, and again, loads of spice and loamy soil nuances, the wine has great intensity, a full-bodied texture, and finely grained, sweet tannin. This is a stunner and again, accessible, but its best days are probably a good decade away, as this could very well turn out to be a 40- to 50-year wine.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2014 Promontory has aged impeccably. Dark cherry, plum, leather and lavender are all pushed forward. A wine of density and power, the 2014 shows the richer, more overt style that was in place here ten years ago. I loved this wine on release, and it is still both very special and incredibly young. The 2014 represents a point of transition. It was aged 70% in cask and 30% in small French oak barrels. Today, Promontory is aged exclusively in large-format oak.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2014 Promontory has aged impeccably. Dark cherry, plum, leather and lavender are all pushed forward. A wine of density and power, the 2014 shows the richer, more overt style that was in place here ten years ago. I loved this wine on release, and it is still both very special and incredibly young. The 2014 represents a point of transition. It was aged 70% in cask and 30% in small French oak barrels. Today, Promontory is aged exclusively in large-format oak.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (99)

The 2015 Promontory is just as magnificent as it has always been. Tasted next to current releases, the 2015 shows the riper style of the year, and also a bit more oak influence from the new casks the estate was moving to during this era. Dark-hued fruit, graphite, leather, dried herbs, lavender and a touch of oak open with a bit of coaxing. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the quality of the tannins, by far the biggest challenge the Harlan family faced in the early days of making wines from this rugged hillside site. If I think back to the 2008, the first vintage here, and wines I tasted prior to release, the progress made at Promontory in under a decade is nothing short of remarkable.

The Wine Independent (100)

Deep purple-black colored, the nose of the 2016 Promontory starts a little sluggish and broody before positively erupting with powerful scents of plum preserves and crème de cassis, followed by exotic hints of cardamom, Indian spices, and sandalwood, plus wafts of fertile loam and crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich, and velvety, intertwining opulence and minerality with wonderful vibrancy and gravitas, finishing with an epically long-lasting array of earthy sparks. Now starting to shut down as it heads into a slumber, give it a good 4-5 more years in the cellar before broaching, then drink it over the next 30+ years.

James Suckling (98)

Blackcurrant, tar, lead pencil and dark fruit. Full-bodied with resin, dark-berry and redwood undertones and firm, fine tannins. Salty. Leaner than some, but so long and bright. Vertical elegance here. Needs three to four years to soften and open.

James Suckling (98)

Blackcurrant, tar, lead pencil and dark fruit. Full-bodied with resin, dark-berry and redwood undertones and firm, fine tannins. Salty. Leaner than some, but so long and bright. Vertical elegance here. Needs three to four years to soften and open.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Packed full of vivid (there really doesn't seem any other word for it) cassis and blueberry fruits, floral, textural and nuanced. Cabernet Sauvignon signature mix of crushed rocks, mint, crayon and slate, just a brilliant wine and a reflection of its exceptional site. This is elegant and precise while still delivering muscular, powerful flavours. I first tasted it at the property last November, and it's reassuring to see it make exactly the same impression when retasted back in Bordeaux, away from the awe-inspiring landscape. Harvest September 10 through to October 23. David Cilli winemaker, director Will Harlan.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Packed full of vivid (there really doesn't seem any other word for it) cassis and blueberry fruits, floral, textural and nuanced. Cabernet Sauvignon signature mix of crushed rocks, mint, crayon and slate, just a brilliant wine and a reflection of its exceptional site. This is elegant and precise while still delivering muscular, powerful flavours. I first tasted it at the property last November, and it's reassuring to see it make exactly the same impression when retasted back in Bordeaux, away from the awe-inspiring landscape. Harvest September 10 through to October 23. David Cilli winemaker, director Will Harlan.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2019 Promontory has a deep garnet-purple color. It is quite closed at the moment, needing a little swirling to reveal notes of crushed rocks, garrigue, iron ore, and lavender, leading to a core of black cherries, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blackcurrants, with a hint of mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is so tightly wound, delivering multi-layered black and red berries with mineral and earthy sparks, supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and fragrant.

James Suckling (97)

Aromas of spearmint, sweet tobacco, cigars and blackcurrants follow through to a medium to full body, very polished and refined tannins and an intense finish. Extremely fine and long. Savory. Extremely long finish. Biodynamically grown.

Decanter (97)

Heading into harvest at the peak of the California drought years, the 2015 vintage also marks the first full vintage produced by winemaker Rebekah Wineburg. ‘We saw a small crop with small berries and incredible concentration. Not a hot year but warm,’ she recalls. What a drop-dead lovely wine sporting red, black, and blue-toned fruit flavours and aromas, with enticing cardamom and sweet cedar. Expansive and voluminous on the palate with divine concentration lifted by a spine of tingly acidity. The tannins are almost feathery, light, and delicate, yet present and built on a long, seamless finish. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménѐre. Harvest: September 2 – September 30, 2015. 21 months in 75% new French oak barrel.

James Suckling (98)

Phenomenal aromas of crushed berries, forest fruit, mushrooms and iron. Medium to full body, with layers of soft and refined tannins that follow through to a beautiful finish. Extremely long and refined. This shows depth and structure with balance and harmony. Hard not to open the bottle now and drink it, but it appears to be closing down now. Needs four to five years to show it all.

James Suckling (99)

This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023.

James Suckling (99)

This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023.

James Suckling (99)

This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023.

Wine Enthusiast (100)

This is a winemaker's master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins.

The Wine Independent (96)

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Carmenere, and 2% Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It leaps with vibrant scents of wild blueberries, redcurrant jelly, and warm cassis plus hints of underbrush, pencil shavings, and bay leaves. The full-bodied palate is lively and fine-grained, with bags of bright fruit and a fragrant lift on the finish of this impressive wine.

Wine Enthusiast (100)

An exquisite wine, relying primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon from a single estate. Aromas of lavender, dried herbs and grapefruit pith combine with flavors of firm fruits and cocoa on a structure of abundant, powder-fine tannin and a mouthwatering finish. This wine is refined, detailed and delicious, with as much elegance as energy.

James Suckling (96)

Honeysuckle and sliced melon on both the nose and palate, together with light lime and a hint of white peach. It’s full and layered with density and focus. Flint and crushed stone. It’s long and flavorful. Granita. Creamy texture. Barrel-fermented with some eggs. Almost all old wood. 20% semillon. Unique white for name. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (96)

Vibrant, herbaceous aromas of lemon verbena and thyme lead to tangy citrus and nervy mineral flavors on an almost chewy, tangy texture. Medium-bodied, fresh and well balanced. Made from 58% sauvignon blanc, 32% sauvignon musque and 10% semillon. Medium-bodied and acid driven. Fermented in barrels, concrete eggs and one ceramic amphora. Drink now or hold.

Immerse yourself in the elegant subtleties of the Qupe Santa Ynez Marsanne 2012, a robust offering from California's celebrated central coast. This wine hails from Qupe, a winery established in 1982 by Bob Lindquist, renowned for exploring Rhône-style varietals. Crafted in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley, this Marsanne imbues the enticing traces of its sun-drenched terroir.

The wine invigorates the palate with delicately balanced stone fruit notes displayed with remarkable purity and depth. The 2012 vintage, entirely barrel fermented in one- to three-years-old French oak barrels, offers an intricate interplay of rich texture and bright acidity, adding nuance to its fruit-forward flavours.

An exceptional testament to Lindquist's vision, this Qupe Santa Ynez Marsanne 2012 epitomises classy Californian wine. Its sophisticated profile and lingering finish make it a delightful companion to diverse cuisines, promising gastronomic delights. Revel in the mastery of this fine wine, truly a liquid poem to the patience of an expert winemaker.

Experience the indulgence of the Racines Sta. Rita Hills Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay 2017. This luxurious spirit is meticulously crafted in the acclaimed mineral-rich soils of Sta. Rita Hills, California, a distinctive terroir renowned for its coveted viticulture and picturesque vineyards. The Racines team, composed of some of the finest winemakers, namely Rajat Parr, Sashi Moorman, and Justin Willet, unswervingly commit to creating premium quality, organic, and biodynamic wines.

The 2017 Chardonnay is a pure embodiment of expertise and land synergy, matured in native yeast for maximum extraction of flavours. This wine captures the palatable essence of the region, revealing a sublime, lingering finish with nuances of citrus, orchard fruits, and layered minerality. Displaying vibrant acidity alongside sophisticated complex layers, the Racines Sta. Rita Hills Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 stands as a harmonious testament to the artisanal devotion of its creators and the profound depths of Californian wine.